News

Red River College has launched a new website in support of its Technology Access Centre (TAC) initiative, serving aerospace and manufacturing organizations at home and abroad.

Funded in part by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s (NSERC’s) Community and College Innovation Program, the TAC supports both large and small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by providing enhanced access to RRC’s technological assets, subject matter expertise, and specialized facilities and equipment. Organizations benefit by gaining access to technology and expertise that was previously unavailable directly to industry.

The new website provides an industry portal through which aerospace and manufacturing organizations can view RRC’s resources, including: information on full-time student programming (from which they can draw their future workforce), information on hiring co-op students and interns, information on facilities and equipment available to assist them in projects, and information on how the College can support industry through applied research, technical services and training activities.

The site also highlights success stories and student projects, along with an events calendar listing upcoming seminars and events, and an area for posted tips and tricks helpful for practitioners in the workplace.

“This new website continues to promote the valued partnership we have with companies like StandardAero and our industrial campus, the Centre for Aerospace Technology and Training (CATT),” says Don MacDonald, Dean of RRC’s School of Transportation, Aviation and Manufacturing. “This new resource will ultimately mean more opportunities for industry, and for our students studying in these areas.”

Visit the new website to learn more about the Technology Access Centre.

Do you love sandwiches? (Of course you do. It was a rhetorical question.)

Kids from all over Winnipeg have been busy creating their most outrageous, nutritious and delicious sandwiches, as part of The Winnipeg Foundation’s inaugural Recipe for Success Video Cooking Contest.

Now it’s your turn to help decide the winner of the People’s Choice Award, by voting for one of 56 submitted video entries — in which groups of elementary school students assemble everything from healthy-sounding options (the Power Protein Pita, the Hummus and Veggie-Packed Panini) to surefire crowd-pleasers like the Jets Bagel, the Waffle Supreme, and the Chuck Norris Sandwich. (And yes, we assume that last one eats you.)

In addition to the People’s Choice winner, an overall winner and runner-up team will be decided by a panel of celebrity judges, among them Keith Müller, Dean of RRC’s School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts.

Prizes for the winning teams include three $500 grants to support healthy food initiatives at schools and community organizations, and five Junior Master Chef Culinary Adventures at RRC. The winning sandwich will also be featured on the menu at RRC’s Culinary Exchange.

Voting is open until March 28. For complete details or to cast your vote, visit wpgfdn.org/recipe-for-success.

Join us at the 2014 Rotary Career Symposium, taking place Tuesday, March 18 and Wednesday, March 19 at the RBC Convention Centre Winnipeg.

Explore the hundreds of full- and part-time degree, diploma and certificate programs available at RRC. Instructors and academic advisors will be on hand to answer questions and provide insight on the many career and educational options awaiting RRC students.

Billed as the largest and most comprehensive career symposium in Canada, the Rotary event runs 9am-3pm and 6-9pm on Tuesday, and 9am-3pm on Wednesday.

This year’s theme is “Your Future Trending”; click here for more information, including exhibitor and speaker lists, and registration forms.

Profile by Stacy Cardigan Smith (Creative Communications, 2006)

A new Corydon Avenue men’s boutique is re-imagining the Winnipeg shopping experience, thanks in part to one graphic designer’s eye for detail.

Amanda Remond, along with boyfriend Chris Saniuk, owns Normandy, which opened last November and carries upscale menswear, housewares and lifestyle goods. Remond, 22, completed nearly two years of Red River College’s Graphic Design program; she accepted a job offer before graduating, but says her design training is part of what’s helping the store create a buzz.

“I am a designer,” says Remond. “That’s how I identify myself, so everything I do, I try and do it with a certain esthetic.”

Remond describes the store’s style as “high-quality heritage.” As you might expect from a boutique, the clothes are all hand-picked and each item is given the display space it deserves. Favourites include Gitman Vintage shirts ($165 each) and Red Wing boots (ranging from $270-$390 a pair). But it’s not just what’s for sale that counts; the physical shop and its social media presence play a big part in the store’s appeal.

“We just want it to feel like you’re walking into someone’s living room,” says Remond of the shop.

Maybe so, but this isn’t your average living room. With the exposed brick, reclaimed wood, a concrete floor and vintage and mid-century modern furniture, it’s a lot like a trendy Exchange District loft.

While Saniuk renovated the physical space, Remond tailored the store brand. What resulted is a fresh esthetic that’s steeped in history – and reflects Remond’s definition of good design.

“As little design as possible. Something that is simple but still translates a strong message. And is just clean and the bare necessities… Design that makes sense.” Read More →

Red River College student Andrew McLean, a former soldier with a long history of philanthropy, will be honoured this month by Macdonald Youth Services for his commitment to making a difference in the lives of at-risk youth.

McLean, currently in his second year of RRC’s Disability and Community Support program, will be honoured with MYS’s prestigious Sir Hugh John Macdonald Memorial Award, which recognizes those who demonstrate values of respect and fairness towards youth, and practical assistance in helping them develop life skills for a better tomorrow.

In addition to fundraising for such charities as Children’s Hospital and The Terry Fox Foundation over the years, McLean is also the co-founder of Soldier On, a program that employs sports and athletic therapy to help rehabilitate Canadian soldiers suffering from physical and psychological injuries.

A former warrant officer who retired from the Canadian Forces after 22 years of service, McLean recently donated $25,000 of his own money to start the Canadian Torch Foundation, which provides annual scholarships and awards to students with physical or developmental disabilities across Canada.

McLean is well-known to MYS — for years, he’s been donating new winter clothing and backpacks filled with gifts for those staying at the organizations Youth Resource Centre/Shelter.

He’ll be honoured at MYS’s annual Spring Fling, taking place Thursday, March 20 at Paterson GlobalFoods Institute. The event raises money for MYS’s Education Trust Fund; tickets are $100 per person.

Visit the MYS website for more information, or to purchase a ticket or make a donation.

Evan Walker (left) and Brittany Adrian, who were named Playoff MVPs at the 2014 MCAC Basketball Championships.

A special double-congratulations to the members of the RRC Rebels Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams, on their double-gold performances at last weekend’s MCAC (Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference) Championships.

The Men’s squad brought home their sixth straight MCAC title, edging out Canadian Mennonite University by a score of 78-76. The Women’s team scored their third consecutive title, dominating Providence University College to the tune of 69-29.

Rebels Evan Walker (guard) and Brittany Adrian (forward) were named Playoff MVPs. Click here for additional tournament details.

Red River College has launched its first international pathway program in India.

The new initiative will allow students at the Xplora Design Skool (XDS) in Ahmedabad, India to receive an International Diploma in Digital Media Design. Students will take their first year of studies at XDS and will be granted direct admission to RRC following the successful completion of Year One.

Students aren’t required to complete their second year at Red River College; however, the option exists and is advantageous, as Canada has many engaging and emerging opportunities for digital media designers.

“This partnership is important for moving our strategy to create opportunities for global engagement, and it opens the doors for students from India to learn cutting-edge skills in Canada,” says Christine Crowe, vice-president of community development at RRC. “The new program showcases RRC and Manitoba as a world-class education destination for students.”

As part of the new program, RRC has sent Chris Brower, program coordinator for the College’s Digital Media Design program, to facilitate a train-the-trainer workshop for instructors at XDS. Part of Brower’s visit will include an overview of DMD, as well as available career opportunities and information about Manitoba. Read More →

Keep your eyes peeled for a brand new advertising campaign positioning Red River College as a compelling first choice for education.

The newly-launched, province-wide bus and billboard campaign achieves a number of key goals – chief among them that of celebrating our graduates and their success stories, while at the same time showing prospective students all that can be accomplished with an RRC education.

The campaign also strengthens partnerships with the countless employers who hire RRC grads, identifies programs and industry areas that may be of interest to prospective students, and showcases RRC’s core strengths, including employment success and employer satisfaction rates.

The billboards feature 27 RRC alumni, and will be visible for 12 weeks (March 3-May 25, 2014).

See the campaign in its entirety →

Red River College is pleased to see infrastructure and skills training identified as top priorities in the Federal Budget 2014.

“We welcome a collaborative approach with government, industry and community partners in expanding our ability to train Manitoba’s workforce,” said Stephanie Forsyth, President & CEO, Red River College. “This approach will ensure we meet the needs of education in the 21^st century and prepare students for the demands of the modern workforce.”

With the creation of the Canada Apprentice Loan, additional funding by the federal government will reduce waiting lists for access to education and meet employer demands for skilled workers. This can help address youth unemployment at the same time.

The government’s pledge of $305 million over five years to extend and enhance broadband high-speed Internet access for rural and Northern communities is welcomed. This aligns with RRC’s strategic plan in ensuring access to education for all Manitobans. RRC is equipped to provide distance education via Internet training but we are hampered in rural areas, particularly in the north for Aboriginal students. Expanding broadband networks and making the Internet more available is a way to open the door to post-secondary education for many, while also providing another solution to the anticipated skills gap.

Read More →

Red River College’s (RRC) 2014 winter convocation saw 107 students graduate from the inaugural Bachelor of Nursing (BN) degree program.

“Red River College is proud to offer this degree program, designed by us for the benefit of Manitoba students and the provincial health care system,” said Stephanie Forsyth, RRC’s President & CEO.

“I congratulate the staff in RRC’s Nursing Department and the leadership of Dean Louise Gordon and Program Chair Karen Wall for developing and implementing this innovative program.”

RRC first launched its Bachelor of Nursing program in 2010, in order to provide an accelerated alternative to the four-year programs offered at universities. RRC’s first class of graduates completed their studies in August 2013, and crossed the stage during winter convocation ceremonies held Tuesday, February 4, 2014.

Read More →